Hong Kong celebrated a significant milestone yesterday as Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) announced that 413 newly arrived or expanded overseas and Chinese Mainland companies are expected to bring in over HK$53 billion (US$6.8 billion) in foreign direct investment and create more than 8,600 new jobs. The announcement was made during a welcome reception attended by over 380 representatives of these enterprises.
John Lee, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, highlighted Hong Kong's ranking as the world's freest economy by the Fraser Institute and the second most competitive economy according to the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook. "In choosing Hong Kong for your Asian and global business expansion, you share my belief in Hong Kong's flourishing future," Lee said. "You have made a wise choice. Hong Kong is one of the world's best economies to do business in and with."
Under the "one country, two systems" principle, Hong Kong benefits from strong support from China while maintaining close global connections. Its open business environment, low tax regime, and common law system make it attractive to international firms. Austria-based transport and logistics firm Gebrüder Weiss recently upgraded its Hong Kong office to a regional headquarters for East Asia and Oceania. Regional Director Michael Zankel noted, "The business environment is great, you have a lot of talent around here to employ. It has always been the gateway to the Chinese Mainland but for us it is more a gateway to Asia."
Italian company Moleskine also expressed enthusiasm. Merwann Younes, Global Head of Hospitality & Lifestyle Channels, described Hong Kong as "a very dynamic and creative city, which are also the core values for Moleskine as a brand." Etienne Dubois, Chief Strategy Officer of Unlimitics, which developed an AI-powered school simulation game for neurodivergent children, praised Hong Kong as "a very good melting pot for talent and opportunities and for growth."
InvestHK's first-half results show a 9% increase in completed projects compared to the same period in 2025, with anticipated direct investment up 36% and new jobs created rising 6% year-on-year. Among the 413 enterprises, 246 came from the Chinese Mainland, followed by Singapore (26), the United States (21), the United Kingdom (18), France (11), and Italy (11). The top sectors include innovation and technology (93), financial services and fintech (89), tourism and hospitality (55), transport, logistics and industrials (44), and business and professional services (39).
Looking ahead, Chief Executive Lee emphasized the development of the Northern Metropolis as a new economic engine and an international I&T and business hub. "This will unlock abundant opportunities and shape a prosperous future for Hong Kong," he said, adding that the HKSAR Government is creating Hong Kong's first Five-Year Plan focusing on long-term economic momentum, technology advancement, and improving livelihoods. Detailed investment promotion results are available at https://gia.info.gov.hk/general/202606/25/P2026062500366_548202_1_1782386859629.pdf.
